Canales Corner: January Camp Holds Promise Of New Talent

Sure, not all the players in January training camps are destined to become national team regulars - but in a World Cup year, any chance to impress Bob Bradley is vital.

Dec 23, 2009 1:30:41 PM

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By Andrea Canales

So this is Christmas, which means that January US Men's National Team camp is around the corner. The extended camp is a chance to take a look at what the players have done to improve. It's another year over, and a new one begun.

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January camp in California is always a bit of a sunrise, sunset mix of players. The first one I covered was in 2005, which had a shaggy-headed Clint Dempsey and a buzzed-cut Clint Mathis both in attendance. The hustle and aggressiveness Dempsey showed boded well for his future, while Mathis and his desultory performance in the fitness tests, despite his creativity in scrimmage matches, did not.

Indeed, that was the last January camp for Mathis. Dempsey, of course, no longer attends as well, but that's because he's abroad and busy playing during the MLS offseason.

Of course, success is based on talent, but hunger plays a huge role as well.

For years, January camp was a bit askew, with a number of hopefuls trying to earn their first cap for the USA national team in attendance with Landon Donovan, the most-capped active player and cream of the USMNT crop. He could take some time off from the training camp to enjoy his honeymoon, as he did in 2007, and still be the best player in camp when he showed up. Generally, though, Donovan was semi-ignored at camps. He was the fully-known quantity, the metronome setting the pace, the standard by which to judge the improvement of others. If a young player could link up with Donovan well, or anticipate his incisive passes, that was a breakthrough for that aspiring national team performer.

Yet Donovan's absence (this year, he's with Everton) is also a chance for other players to prove themselves. Last year, while Donovan was on loan to Bayern Munich, midfielder Stuart Holden had an impressive camp stint. This was generally overlooked because it was another midfielder, Sacha Kljestan, who scored a hat trick in his national team debut versus Sweden - the friendly match that the training had been building up to. Holden didn't even play in the game, having picked up a recent camp injury. Until that came, however, Holden had been tearing up the fitness tests and daily scrimmages.

Stu Holden | Started 2009 off with a good January camp

Now, Holden is weighing offers from abroad, as well as a sizable salary offer from MLS.

The player who matched Holden stride for stride in the most stringent runs and exercises, though, was veteran John Thorrington. Much like Frankie Hejduk pushed and at times exceeded Donovan's fitness efforts in January camps on multiple occasions, it was an intriguing mix of an older engine firing strong and a new one revving up.

Perhaps the start of the new year also compels players to think more about their future and where their ideal career path lies. It was in last year's January camp where Charlie Davies, speaking of where he might play one day, mentioned the French league as a place where he thought he could thrive. Indeed, when his transfer to Sochaux later worked out, Davies fit in there quite well.

And so this is Christmas, and a new list of 30 players is up for the January camp. This could be the year when Robbie Rogers' fitness matches his deceptive speed, when Kyle Beckerman, with an MLS title under his belt, has the complete confidence to be the man in midfield.

Perhaps one of the younger players will make a giant leap forward - defenders Omar Gonzalez and Kevin Alston come to mind. Perhaps Robbie Findley will prove himself worthy as a replacement for the unfortunately injured Davies.

Of course, this being a World Cup year, there is extra pressure on camp participants. Ten players from the USA January camp in 2006 made the World Cup roster for Germany. Eight of those actually played.

Even up to the last several days before the 2006 World Cup, the American roster was being adjusted due to late injuries. Players can never take for granted any chance to make a positive impression in an environment where change is a constant. A good January camp performance can make all the difference in the 'what-have-you-done-lately' environment of national team soccer.

The important thing for players in camp to remember is to seize the moment without hesitation or anxiety about the future. The present chance is all they have, and making the most of it is crucial. The key to having a good camp, whether it's the first one or one of many, is to have no fear.

There are players in camp who are young enough to have no memory of a time when the USA did not regularly participate in the World Cup. Omar Gonzalez was all of a year old when Paul Caliguiri's famous shot fired the Americans to the 1990 World Cup.The forty years of futility are nothing but misty tales to these fresh and eager players. While they might take qualification a bit for granted, they may also have a thirst for a new level of achievement.

Omar Gonzalez | Attending first USA training camp

Because for all the credit that soccer deserves for making strides in the United States, forward progress is just that, not standing pat or accomplishing more of the same.

For USA soccer, it's a new start, a new year, a new decade. Let's hope it's a good one.

Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America

For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page.